Christadelphian writers who cover the historical application

• W. H. Boulton in the 1907 Christadelphian Magazine

• C.C. Walker in Theophany• Edward Whittaker in Testimony

Magazine (June 1985)• Geoff & Ray Walker in The

Second Exodus

The 5th Vision

What Zechariah saw:• Lampstand with a bowl on top

• 7 lamps and 7 pipes

• 2 olive trees dripping oil through 2 pipes into the bowl

What’s missing in this vision as compared to

the tabernacle?

We have….• Lampstand• Lamps• Oil

What’s missing?No human effort to supply the oil!

The Components of the vision

• Lampstand = one community of believers

• 7 Lamps = individual ecclesias or pockets of believers (Rev 1:20)

• Lights = revealing of God’s character and purpose to unbelievers & believers (Mat 5:14-15)

• Oil = God’s spirit at work in our lives

The 2 Olive Trees?

Zerubabbel & Joshua (like the 2 witnesses of Rev 11:3-4)

The 2 Olive Branches (v.12)?

The “two anointed ones” (Sons of oil)Haggai & Zechariah

What was the mountain (v.7) that Zerubabbel faced at that time?

Ezra 4:23-24

23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease.24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

The capstone (v.7) Last stone lifted into place It’s force was felt by every stone in

the building and held everything in place

Shouts of “grace, grace to it!”God’s grace was all over this last stone because there was nothing the people could have done to deserve God’s kindness to them in letting them finish this house!

God’s House will be Finished!

• Not by might, nor by power, but by God’s spirit (v.6)

• Soon! Zerubabbel’s hands will finish it (v.9)

• The angels (7 eyes) rejoice to see the work continuing (v.10)

Beware lest we despise

the day of small things!

Look at the Angels in Zechariah

“Angel of the Lord” (Michael) “Angel who talked with me”

(possibly Gabriel) “those who stood before him”

(3:4)

Note the teamwork of the angels all throughout

Zechariah!

Involvement of the Angels Zech 1: Angels working with angels to provide

political environment to finish building. An angel pleading with God for His mercy on the people.

Zech 2: Angels involved in the security of Jerusalem and assisting Jews who want to return to the land.

Zech 3: An angel stands up for the Jews and rebukes the adversaries. Assisting angels change Joshua’s clothes. Angels watching over the capstone.

Zech 4: Angels involved in removing the mountain and rejoicing in the temple work!

Angels throughout the Bible

2 Chron 16:9 The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth

Dan 4:17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones…

Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.

No different today!

Angels involved in the political events

Angels protecting God’s family: in our homes and when we travel

Angels pleading to God on our behalf Angels guide us in our walk to the

Kingdom

We hope to be equal to the Angels

Luke 20:35-36 35 "But those who are counted

worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

36 "nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

What Angels do now, we hope to do in the Kingdom!

Psa 103:20-22 God’s ministers who excel in strength and do God’s word and do His pleasure.

Heb 1:14 Ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation.

Angels are here right now!

They hear what we say and think (Gen 18:12-13; 1 Pet 3:6; Lk 24:6-7)

They rejoice when we make good choices (Luke 15:10), disappointed when we don’t

They watch the way we treat each other They know what we do in our homes

Don’t disappoint them!

Lessons from Today  Our God will rebuke our adversaries and

bless our work today The angels are watching over our ecclesial

work and will make sure God’s house is assembled in the kingdom

Remember…it’s God’s spirit, not our might, that keeps our ecclesial lights shining

It is only by God’s grace that we will fit into His spiritual house

The Angels work for us 24 – 7 – 365. They want us to make it. Don’t let them down!